Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is planning a certification program and assessing the need for an associate degree program in clinical research. Such programs will prepare students to work as clinical research technicians or assistants, typical jobs being created by the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis.
PPD Inc., a global contract research company, plans to lease a 40,000-square-foot facility on the campus, creating 200-300 new jobs. The new RCCC programs will meet a primary workforce need of organizations like PPD.
“RCCC is working with North Carolina BioNetwork staff from the BioEducation Center at Gaston College to develop a new certification program that will be offered through our Continuing Education department. This program will train students for entry-level positions within clinical research organizations,” said Jeanie Moore, RCCC vice president of continuing education.
“The college also is conducting a feasibility study of the region to measure local industry needs, as a first step in planning an associate degree program in clinical research. PPD’s plans at the North Carolina Research Campus will be a significant part of our assessment,” Moore added.
RCCC currently offers associate degree programs in biotechnology and agricultural biotechnology.
It also offers the 132-hour “BioWork” course through its Continuing Education department. BioWork, an introductory course combining the basics of manufacturing technology and the fundamentals of science, gives students a broad overview of the biotechnology industry.
A study commissioned by the City of Kannapolis in 2006 projects 2,220 new biotech-related jobs will come to the region by the end of 2008 and more than 13,900 such jobs by 2032. According to the study, the research campus also will stimulate job growth in other employment sectors.